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Sunday, 25 April 2010

As the lakers pass through the canal they are followed by a flock of hungry gulls. The trees are at that point where they look just as if they have had a dry brush of yellow green dragged across them, only a few more days and they will be in full leaf.

I switched back to oils for this one. No particular reason really, just wanted a change. It would probably have been easier with acrylics as there was no blending required to speak of, and quite a lot of light over dark and dark over light. It might be a good idea to use a little more logic in my decision making

Sunday, 18 April 2010

And now for something completely different. It is time to get back to matters closer at hand. I haven't been working much in watercolour and I thought that these little snowdrops, almost buried still in last year's leaves, would be a good place to start.

I used some hand made paper that I bought at the Tate gift shop last year, it makes a change and I really need to practice more, especially doing deep saturated colour like this one.

I see that I just acquired my 50th "follower" and I now occasionally have over 80 subscribers according to Feedburner (the number fluctuates wildly, but rarely goes below 75 and has been as high as 82). I find myself to be both gratified and somewhat intimidated by this. I hope you all find something interesting here, I haven't been posting as regularly for the past few months as I did in my first two years, but perhaps that is a good thing!

Thursday, 15 April 2010

This might well be the last of the Puerto Rico paintings, although I do still have quite a few sketches that I might post sometime. Spring is well advanced here in the Niagara Peninsula and I really must get back to painting some local scenes.

This is the view behind the laundry, painted while standing at the railing on the porch. The white roof in the distance is a condominium, locally referred to as the "Iranian Embassy". It is quite hideous but fortunately Rincon's beach front buildings are not too tall and there are still plenty of magnificent views.

The tree on the right is called an almond, although it is nothing like the almond trees that grow further north which are similar to apricots or peaches. This tree is deciduous but goes through a very short "winter". While I was there its leaves turned red and dropped off but the new leaves where already budding on the branches before I left. In the foreground you can see the distinctive leaves of bananas and papayas.

Sunday, 11 April 2010

Having painted Maybelline in her favourite place I felt that I must paint Trigger in his. There is nothing he likes more than taking his b.a.l.l. to the b.e.a.c.h. Careful what you say because I suspect that he is learning to spell.
The composition was possibly somewhat ill-concieved as it resulted in having to paint the centre of interest about half an inch high. I really must start to work a little larger but I need to find a good place to set up my easel.

Saturday, 10 April 2010

This one gave me a bit of trouble, I wished I had attempted it with oil instead of acrylic, too hard to blend.

I called this Columbus Rock in another post and my sister asked me how I knew that was what it was called because she didn't even know its name. Now I am doubting myself because I found it on a rather inaccurate tourist map and I think Columbus Rock might be a little further along the point. Apparently, Christopher Columbus went ashore on November 19, 1493 somewhere on the western shore of Puerto Rico. It certainly could have been anywhere along the coast and would probably have been on one of the Caribbean beaches where the surf is less daunting.